The Saturn IB was an uprated version of the Saturn I, which featured a much more powerful second stage, the S-IVB. Unlike the earlier Saturn I, the IB had enough throw weight to launch the Apollo Command/Service Module or Lunar Module into Earth orbit, which made it invaluable for testing the Apollo spacecraft while the larger Saturn V needed to send them to the moon was still being developed. The Saturn IB was later used for manned Skylab flights, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project. The final production run (such as Skylab launch vehicles) did not have the alternating black and white tanks on the first stage that were hallmarks of the earlier runs.
Diagram of the S-IB first stage of the Saturn IB rocket.
The S-IB stage is an eight engine booster for Earth orbital missions. It is composed of nine propellant containers, eight fins, a thrust structure assembly, eight H-1rocket engines, and many other components. The propellant containers consist of eight Redstone tanks (Four holding LOX and four holding RP-1.) clustered around a Jupiter rocket tank, which contains LOX. The four outboard engines can gimbal, meaning they can be steered to properly guide the rocket. This requires a few more engine components.
Diagram of the S-IVB second stage of the Saturn IB.
The S-IVB stage is generally identical to the Saturn V rocket third stage, with the notable exceptions of its interstage adapter, smaller auxiluary propulsion control modules, and its lack of an on-orbit engine restart capability. It is powered by a single J-2 engine, which is gimballed for flight control. This stage has a "common bulkhead," meaning that the propellant and oxidizer tanks share a bulkhead. This saved about ten tons of weight and reduced vehicle length over ten feet.
Height: 58.4 ft (17.8 m)
Diameter: 21.7 ft (6.6 m)
Number of fins: 0
Engines: 1 J-2
Thrust: 200,000 lbf (890 kN)
Fuel: Liquid hydrogen (LH2) 64,000 US gal (242 m³)
Oxidizer: Liquid oxygen (LOX) 20,000 US gal (76 m³)
Burn time: approx. 7 min
Burnout altitude (for Saturn IB): orbit
All Saturn IB launches
All Saturn IB Launches from AS-201 through ASTP.
Saturn IB on its "milkstool" on its way to pad 39B
First Skylab crew: Conrad, Kerwin, Weitz. 404 orbits. First launch from Launch Pad 39B using a Saturn V umbilical tower and a "milkstool" assembly to allow the rocket to be serviced using Saturn V launch tower and mobile service platform.
Skylab Rescue Mission. Not flown. Currently on display at Kennedy Space Center, with Apollo FVV spacecraft mockup. First stage engines and Apollo FVV service module replaced with fabricated duplicates in 1993-1994 due to severe corrosion.
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, Crew: Stafford, Slayton, Brand. 136 orbits. Last Saturn IB flight.
AS-211
Unused. First stage on display with the S-IVB Battleship Test Stage stacked in a launch ready condition at the Alabama Welcome Center on I-65 in Ardmore, AL. Second stage, the S-IVB, is on display as a Skylab mockup at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL.
AS-212
Unused. Second stage, S-IVB, converted to Skylab space station.
